My Little Pony is an American/Canadian animated television series produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions based on the My Little Pony toys released by Hasbro. The series featured as the first segment of a program called My Little Pony 'n Friends. The second segment would be an unrelated cartoon based on another Hasbro franchise - including The Glo Friends, MoonDreamers and the Potato Head Kids. The series debuted on September 15, 1986, a few months after the release of My Little Pony: The Movie (which had introduced the Paradise Estate and many of the series' main characters), and ended on September 23, 1987. Two previous television specials were also edited into segments of My Little Pony 'n Friends: Rescue from Midnight Castle and Escape from Catrina. The complete series of My Little Pony segments has been released on DVD in Regions 1 and 4. As of January 25, 2012, none of the other segments has been released on DVD.

Ponyland is a mystical land, home to all kinds of magical creatures. The Little Ponies make their home in Paradise Estate, living a peaceful life filled with song and games. However, not all of the creatures of Ponyland are so peaceful, and the Ponies often find themselves having to fight for survival against witches, trolls, goblins and all the other beasts that would love to see the Little Ponies destroyed, enslaved or otherwise harmed.[1]

Earth Ponies are like normal horses, but brightly colored as many creatures in Dream Valley are.

Pegasus Ponies are agile winged horses who can fly in the skies of Dream Valley and even go beyond the rainbow to our world.

Unicorn Ponies possess a single horn on their forehead and are able to wink out, making them phase out and disappear.

Flutter Ponies are shy but powerful creatures with magic in their gossamer wings, granting them flight as well as various undefined abilities. They live in a remote area of Dream Valley known as Flutter Valley.

Sea Ponies are brightly colored seahorse-like creatures who dwell in the rivers and lakes of Dream Valley.

The Bushwoolies, a joyful species of furballs that think alike. They seem to be led by a blue Bushwoolie named Hugster.

The Furbobs, cousins of the Bushwoolies. They primarily walk on four legs as opposed to Bushwoolies who seem to walk on the equivalent of two legs. They also think more independently compared to the Bushwoolies.

Stone Backs, ferocious looking armadillo-like creatures. They are enemies of the Furbobs until Megan helps the Furbobs realize that the two species can overcome their differences with love and understanding.

The Grundles, a small race of creatures ruled by the Grundle King. They used to live in Grundleland before it was smoozed; they now live in Dream Castle.

Three human children, siblings Megan, Danny, and Molly, often fly across the Rainbow to join the Little Ponies. The group often seeks advice on magical matters from the Moochick, a wise but eccentric gnome who lives in the nearby Mushromp, and his rabbit assistant, Habbit.

Tirek captures some of the little ponies to use as demons to pull his Chariot of Darkness at midnight. The rest of the ponies panic, fearing that they will be next. Firefly goes off for help and finds Megan, a girl who lives at a stable at the other end of the rainbow. Megan agrees to go to Ponyland with Firefly, but will they be able to rescue the little ponies in time?

Note: Originally untitled, this special was known as "Firefly's Adventure" on its US VHS release, "Dreamland" on its UK VHS release,[2] and variously "Rescue from Midnight Castle", "Escape from Midnight Castle" or "Rescue at Midnight Castle" in syndication.

The Little Ponies prepare for a "Welcome Back" party for their human friend, Megan. Meanwhile, little furballs called Bushwoolies are the slaves of a feline witch named Catrina and are watched over by a shape-shifting lizard named Rep. When the Bushwoolies escape, Catrina abducts Baby Moondancer and the Rainbow of Light to force the ponies to be her new slaves.

The ponies are on their way to Flutter Valley for the "Sun Tuesday" celebration with the Flutter Ponies. Meanwhile, the Witches from the Volcano of Gloom are busy hatching a plan to destroy Flutter Valley and the ponies, allying with an army of giant bees to get their revenge on the Flutter Ponies. The bees steal the precious Sun Stone, and if the Flutter Ponies can't get it back, their home will be destroyed.

11-14

"The Ghost of Paradise Estate (Episodes 1-4)"

TBA

George Arthur Bloom

29 September-2 October 1986

A ghost comes to Paradise Estate to scare the little ponies. However, when it flies away, it becomes tangled in a tree, convincing Megan that it is not really a ghost. She introduces herself as Pluma, a shape-shifting bird. She tells them about a creature who lived in Dream Valley before the Paradise Estate was built and is planning to destroy the ponies' home. Megan and the others decide to help Pluma recover the Flashstone and save her grandfather.

A pair of monkeys called Gizmonks take Danny and Surprise prisoner until Megan turns over the Rainbow of Light to them.

16-19

"The Glass Princess (Episodes 1-4)"

TBA

Tracey Mann Hall and Michael Charles Hill

6–9 October 1986

A self-obsessed witch named Porcina wants to turn the world into glass, to see her reflection everywhere. Three ponies, captured by a trio of Raptorians, are the key to Porcina's plan, and Megan and her friends must stop her using their own magic to destroy their friends. Meanwhile, Shady is accusing herself of lots of things.

After the first run of Part 4, the song "Hurry" was removed, and the episode got slowed so that episode would maintain its length. The scene with the song does not appear on any VHS or DVD release of this story.

20

"Pony Puppy"

TBA

Carla Joseph Conway and Gerry Conway

10 October 1986

The ponies find a giant puppy and decide to keep her, build her a doghouse, and name her Dinah. When the new puppy is reunited with her family the following spring, the ponies are sad to see her go, but they realize that even though friends come and go they will never leave their hearts.

21-24

"Bright Lights (Episodes 1-4)"

TBA

Barbara Petty

13–16 October 1986

The Baby Ponies are delighted when rock star Knight Shade performs for them - but the concert is a front to steal their shadows and feed his dark master.

Sweet Stuff wants to play games with everyone else, but feels left out because she is an Earth Pony and doesn't seem to be good at anything. She ends up surprising everyone (even herself) when she joins a treasure hunt with the pegasi and is the only one able to answer the last riddle and win the game.

The ancient city of Tambelon disappeared 500 years ago. Now, it returns to Dream Valley and all of the unicorns mysteriously vanish.

30

"Little Piece of Magic"

TBA

Beth Bornstein

24 October 1986

The Baby Ponies are bored and want Ribbon and Buttons to play a game with them. Ribbon suggests that they play a game of Make Believe and runs out to go get them a red ball to use in their game. She explains that the red ball is magic and can be anything they want it to be. While she's gone the Baby Ponies take turns imagining what the red ball will be.

31-34

"The Magic Coins (Episodes 1-4)"

TBA

Michael Reaves

27–30 October 1986

The ponies are delighted to discover a treasure chest of magic coins. However, Baby Lickety Split steps on one while wishing it for it never to rain again. The wish is granted and brings a drought over Pony Land.

35

"Mish Mash Melee"

TBA

Bruce Faulk

31 October 1986

After a magical mishap, Fizzy, Shady, Wind Whistler, and Gusty must live each other's lives until they can restore the balance of nature.

36-37

"Woe Is Me (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

Gordon Kent

3–4 November 1986

The Little Ponies provide shelter to Woebegone, a wandering hobo who brings bad luck and disaster wherever he goes.

Posey finds some sentient flowers wandering around her garden and offers them shelter and water, but she has no idea what they have in store for her to repay her kindness. After the Flouries have taken Masquerade hostage, they are on their way to sucking the life out of Dream Valley unless the ponies can stop them.

40

"Would Be Dragonslayer"

TBA

Carla Joseph Conway and Gerry Conway

7 November 1986

Spike is harassed by a young boy trying to become a knight. The ponies help him to find a good deed that doesn't involve slaying their friend.

41-42

"Baby, It's Cold Outside (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

Gordon Kent

10–11 November 1986

The ponies are delighted as snow falls in summer, not realizing that it's a plot by the Penguin King to freeze Ponyland and destroy those that can't survive the cold.

A magic spell brings the Paradise Estate to life - and its furniture declares war on the Little Ponies.

47-48

"Through the Door (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

David Wise

18–19 November 1986

A door is opened to the world of fairy tales, and the ponies meet legends such as Robin Hood, Aladdin's genie and Hercules.

49-50

"Rescue from Midnight Castle (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

George Arthur Bloom

20–21 November 1986

The untitled 1984 special, edited into two Episodes. The opening and closing credits were replaced with standard versions and the song "A Little Piece of Rainbow" was removed.

There is some confusion over the episode title, which is sometimes rendered "Escape from Midnight Castle". The US DVD has "Rescue" on the packaging but the on-screen captions for both episodes read "Escape". The Australian DVD has "Rescue" on the caption for Episode 1, but "Escape" on the caption for Episode 2.

Lavan, a lava demon, kidnaps the Princess Ponies and steals their magic wands. As Lavan grows in power, Ponyland's magic is thrown into chaos. Can he be stopped before everything is destroyed?

55

"Spike's Search"

TBA

Michael Charles Hill

11 September 1987

Spike goes in search of his roots and joins a dragon horde, but finds he does not agree with their bullying ways.

56-57

"The Golden Horseshoes (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

Carla Joseph Conway and Gerry Conway

14–15 September 1987

When Mimic becomes afflicted with a mysterious illness, Megan and the ponies embark on a series of odd adventures to find the four golden horseshoes with the power to heal the ailing unicorn.

58-59

"Flight to Cloud Castle (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

Michael Reaves

16–17 September 1987

Heart Throb, Locket, and Twilight help a young elf called Garf rescue his true love Ariel from an enchanted castle, while facing many dangers on the way.

60

"The Ice Cream Wars"

TBA

David Wise

18 September 1987

The First Tooth Baby Ponies are put in charge of the Newborn Twins: Sniffles & Snookums and Milkweed & Tumbleweed. The unruly twins are temporarily subdued with the promise of ice cream, but first the First Tooth Baby Ponies must reunite the feuding ice cream makers Rocky Ripple and Fudgy McSwain, who have cut off Ponyland's ice cream supply.

61-62

"Somnambula (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

David Wise

21–22 September 1987

The ponies prepare a surprise Welcome Home party for the Big Brother ponies who have been racing around the world. However, before he Big Brothers arrive, an old witch named Somnambula puts the adult ponies into a trance, then forces them to play in a circus as she drains the youth from them. The Big Brothers set out to rescue the ponies.

63

"The Prince and the Ponies"

TBA

David Wise

23 September 1987

The ponies come to the aid of two wronged royals when they attend an exclusive party at the Palace de Branforr. Meanwhile, the First Tooth Baby Ponies learn to be careful what they wish for.

64-65

"Escape from Catrina (Episodes 1-2)"

TBA

George Arthur Bloom

24–25 September 1987

The 1985 special Escape from Catrina, edited into two Episodes. The opening and closing credits were replaced with standard versions (which misspelled the original title) and the song 'Those Good (Before You Turned Bad) Old Days' was removed.

Glo Moon Drop Pond, the lifeblood of the Glo Friends springs a leak, and Glo Worm, Garden Ant, and their friends go on a dangerous quest to search for Moon Drops.

11

"Baby Glo Worm Goes Bye-Bye"

TBA

Douglas Booth

December 2, 1986

Baby Glo Worm runs off when she is supposed to be napping and ends up in the Moligan's hideout. Glo Worm and the others search for Baby Glo Worm but get trapped by the Moligans in the process.

12

"Two of a Kind"

TBA

Douglas Booth

December 9, 1986

Bashful Bug runs off after being teased by Glo Worm during a dance. Scoop also runs away as well after wrecking one of the Moligan's tunnels. The two outcasts then meet and form an unlikely friendship.

13

"Make No Mistake, It's Magic"

TBA

Douglas Booth

December 16, 1986

A series of coincidences in a berry patch make Glo Butterfly believe her wand really has magical properties. However, Bed Bug, Bop Bug, and Glo Spider know she is not really magic and attempt to show the other Glo Friends this.

14

"The Forest Brigade"

TBA

Douglas Booth

December 23, 1986

The Moligans feast on the roots of a tree that Garden Ant planted, and Garden Ant attempts to save the tree before it dies.

15

"Caverns of Mystery"

TBA

Douglas Booth

December 30, 1986

Glo Cricket runs out of stories to tell the other Glo Friends and decides to search for the legendary Glo Drop Moon Lake. He fails to find it, and lies about it when he gets back.

16

"Front Page"

TBA

Douglas Booth

January 6, 1987

The Moligans decide to get interviewed for the Glo Land Times newspaper to improve their reputations, but things do not go to plan.

17

"Bean Ball"

TBA

Dale Hale

January 13, 1987

18

"The Masterpiece"

TBA

Diane Duane

January 20, 1987

Doodle Bug feels that no one in Glo Land understands his art, and so goes off to work in private with Snug Bug.

The Moligan's latest plan brings two races of Glo Land bug together, the Glo Friends and the Glo Wees. They form a partnership and work to defeat the Moligans and destroy a storm that will kill the Glo Wees.

An evil witch called Blanche kidnaps Santa Claus and traps him in a cage of ice, so that presents cannot be delivered to the residents of Glo Land and around the world. The Glo Friends go on a quest to rescue Santa.